Whitney Houston Service Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Paterson, NJ to Swedesboro, NJ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 19m
Distance
111.1 mi
179 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 10m
★
6 AM
2h 20m
8 AM
2h 39m
10 AM
2h 26m
12 PM
2h 24m
3 PM
2h 27m
5 PM
2h 38m
8 PM
2h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Paterson, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Swedesboro, NJ
David Kanigan
Trip Overview
Paterson to Swedesboro is 111.1 miles and takes about 2 hours 19 minutes via the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway Southbound, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within New Jersey, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It's a straightforward, predominantly highway route that's easy to navigate. Given its relatively short duration, it's well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing for a relaxed pace.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.6 miles from Paterson, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 77.7 mi | 1h 29m |
| Garden State Parkway | 23.8 mi | 33m |
| Garden State Parkway Southbound | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| NJ 19 | 2 mi | 2m |
| Kings Highway | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Swedesboro Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Exit 129 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Ward Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 77.7 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Paterson, NJ and Swedesboro, NJ.
1
Start on Colt Street
216 ft
·
17 sec
·
Colt Street
2
Turn right onto Ellison Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Ellison Street
3
Turn right onto Memorial Drive
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Memorial Drive
Use the right lane.
4
Turn right
267 ft
·
9 sec
5
Turn straight onto Ward Street
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Ward Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on NJ 19
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Oliver Street
7
Turn slight left onto NJ 19
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
NJ 19
Use the slight left lane.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP South
Use the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto GSP
24 mi
·
33 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Continue on Garden State Parkway
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Garden State Parkway Southbound
11
Take the exit onto Exit 129
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Exit 129
Exit 129
Toward I 95, NJTP, US 9, NJ 440, I 287: New York City, Philadelphia, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
Toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, Philadelphia
Use the slight left lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
Use the slight left lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Use the slight left lane.
16
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
39 mi
·
45 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto NJTP
39 mi
·
44 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
Toward NJTP South: Camden, Wilmington
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 2
Toward US 322: Swedesboro, Glassboro
Use the slight right lane.
19
Turn left onto US 322; CR 536
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Swedesboro Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
20
Turn left onto CR 551
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Kings Highway
21
Arrive at destination
CR 551
Trip Plan
For this 2 hour 19 minute drive, consider leaving Paterson mid-morning to avoid peak commuter traffic. Since the total distance is only 111.1 miles, you won't need to plan for overnight stops, offering flexibility. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 77.7 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike, so plan for a quick break before or after this segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $19, and it’s always wise to top off before embarking on longer highway stretches.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 55.6 miles from Paterson, NJ, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.7 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 24 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.6 miles or 1h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Swedesboro, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Paterson, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Paterson, NJ
This is one driving day of about 111.1 miles and 2h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Paterson, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on New Jersey Turnpike for about 77.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
56 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 55.6 miles from Paterson, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before New Jersey Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 77.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
James Fenimore Service Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Joyce Kilmer
0.1 mi from route
Walt Whitman Service Area
0.1 mi from route
Molly Pitcher Service Area
0.1 mi from route
Woodrow Wilson Service Area
0.1 mi from route
Richard Stockton Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Connie Chung Service Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Larry Doby Service Area
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.4 mi from route
Rest Area
1.6 mi from route
Thomas Edison Service Area
1.9 mi from route
Grover Cleveland Service Area
1.9 mi from route
Valley Settlement House
2 mi from route
Rest Area
2.3 mi from route
TA
2.4 mi from route
Rest Area
2.4 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 108.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Memorial Drive
Turn right onto Memorial Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
29.4 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
Exit 129
Take the exit onto Exit 129 toward I 95, NJTP, US 9, NJ 440, I 287: New York City, Philadelphia, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 129
Toward I 95, NJTP, US 9, NJ 440, I 287: New Yor...
8
29.8 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, Philadelphia
9
30.4 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
8
108.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 14m in
Take the exit toward US 322: Swedesboro, Glassboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 2
Toward US 322: Swedesboro, Glassboro
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.56 one way
$37.13 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
39 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $20.43 | $40.86 |
| premium | $5.01 | $21.92 | $43.85 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $24.49 | $48.98 |
Estimated Tolls: $12.45
New Jersey Turnpike
(77.7 mi)
$10.88
Garden State Parkway
(26.1 mi)
$1.57
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Tolls
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.3 | 0 | $11.67 | $5.33 |
| Efficient EV | 27.8 | 0 | $9.72 | $4.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.4 | 0 | $15.55 | $7.11 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Paterson, NJ
Late night in Paterson on Wednesday
Local time
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
S 2 to 6 mph
83% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Swedesboro, NJ
Late night in Swedesboro on Wednesday
Local time
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 mph
20% chance
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
4 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 19m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Silk cloth and steam locomotives; textiles and continuous paper rolls; firearms and aircraft engines. What do these things have in common? All were manufactured in the same place - Paterson, NJ. In 17...
0 mi from route
~1 min detour
Free
Caution: Overlook Park Parking Lot - Vehicles Must Be Parked in a Designated Spot
Thomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thoma...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
$10
near mile 11.5
View on nps.gov
Morristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winte...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 19.2
View on nps.gov
Gateway National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
20 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 15.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely on highways, with a 95% highway share. You'll encounter a long stretch of 77.7 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike, indicating extended periods of consistent cruising. The route is mostly highway, meaning you'll likely experience a steady flow of traffic and a high density of exits for much of the trip. Expect to spend the vast majority of your time on these major arteries.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.7 mi on New Jersey Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Memorial Drive.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 111.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Memorial Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 29.4 miles (Exit 129): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
154 ft
21 ft
Total Climb
246 ft
Total Descent
291 ft
Highest Point
154 ft
~7.9 mi in
Elevation Range
133 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Paterson, NJ and Swedesboro, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp, Philadelphia, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy, Njtp: New York City and Njtp South: Trenton - among others.
Njtp
29.4 mi in
|
~41m
|
via Exit 129
Philadelphia
29.4 mi in
|
~41m
|
via Exit 129
Woodbridge
29.4 mi in
|
~41m
|
via Exit 129
Perth Amboy
29.4 mi in
|
~41m
|
via Exit 129
Njtp: New York City
29.8 mi in
|
~42m
Njtp South: Trenton
30.4 mi in
|
~43m
Njtp South: Camden
70.1 mi in
|
~1h 30m
|
via NJTP
Wilmington
70.1 mi in
|
~1h 30m
|
via NJTP
About the Cities
Starting in Paterson, NJ
Full guide →Founded 1792
For the township in the Hunter region of New South Wales, see Paterson (New South Wales). Paterson is New Jersey's third largest city (about 155,000 inhabitants as of 2022), and hosts a great attraction: the Great Falls, which are very extensive and second only to Niagara Falls in terms of volume of water in waterfalls east of the Mississippi. Paterson is 12 miles away from Manhattan. It is an ethnically diverse city that houses large Hispanic, Arab, Italian-American, African American and Bengali communities. South Paterson is home to one of the nation's largest Arab communities.
Top landmarks
- • Great Falls — waterfalls on the Passaic River
- • Passaic County Court House — courthouse in Paterson, New Jersey
- • Lambert Castle — historic building in Paterson, New Jersey
Arriving in Swedesboro, NJ
Full guide →Swedesboro is a borough in Gloucester County, New Jersey. It is a small quaint little town of a little over 2,500 people. Swedesboro was formed as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 9, 1902, from portions of Woolwich Township (population over 3,000), which completely surrounds it.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 19m. Total distance: 111.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 77.7 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $12.45 in tolls one way, starting with New Jersey Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 19 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Swedesboro, NJ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. There are 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Memorial Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 29.4 miles (Exit 129): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Morristown National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Swedesboro, NJ before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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